73 BATALLION, KAR

[Ross Debenham]

I attach scan of a recently acquired cover from a member of 73 (K) Batallion, KAR. of unreadable date, and posted from APO 69, a lines of communication post office at Gilgil in Kenya. Now what confuses me is that the 71 KAR was a Somali batallion that fought so bravely in Burma, 72 KAR was a Somali that mutineered at Burao, so why would the army allocate 73 to a Kenyan batallion if it is Kenyan. Or have I got it all wrong.  Help.

[Peter Harvey]

Hi Ross,

I read the date as 25.1.44 and the signature on the censor as R.C. Noble - at this time Lt R.C., Noble, checked Forces War Records and he is recorded with the KAR.

But I can not find anything on the 73rd (K) Battalion..... hopefully other members can help.

Peter

[Ross Debenham]

Thanks Peter, the records seem to get a bit sparse for those officers seconded to East African Command. I wonder if the battalion is actually 73 (A) Battalion and it was actually a Somaliland Battalion in training in Kenya.

[Michael Johnston]

Hi Ross

73 KAR is certainly a Kenya battalion.

The root of your query results from the frequent re-designation of units to avoid confusion as KAR expanded dramatically during WW2.

In this case, 73 (K) KAR arose from the re-designation of 31 KAR as the Nyasaland battalion 3/1 KAR was re-designated 31 (Nyasaland) KAR which is listed as deploying to India.

73 (K) KAR is listed as operating in the Islands Area, specifically Mauritius.

Regards

Michael

[Ross Debenham]

Thank you very much Michael, that has solved a lot of questions for me.

[Michael Johnston]

Hi Ross

Further to this, I checked my collection and found an AMLC from the same person franked at 25c and cancelled on 7 April 1944 at EA APO72. This is Yatta, Kenya, KAR (K) 73's home base.

Capt Roger Noble was seconded to 73 (K) KAR from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He spent 4 years in East Africa.

Regards

Michael

[Ross Debenham]

Once again, thanks Michael.